JP2004071485A - Contact structure and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contact structure capable of preventing a contact member in a form of a coil spring from easily falling off, and to provide an electronic apparatus using it. <P>SOLUTION: This contact structure 60 of an electronic timepiece 1 has: the contact member 50 in a form of a coil spring 51; and a contact support 20 equipped with an elongate cavity 25 for housing the coil spring 51. The contact support 20 is provided with an engagement projection 33 extending toward the center part in the crossing direction of the cavity 25 from one side of a circumferential wall 31 of the cavity 25. The coil spring 51 constituting the contact member 50 is engaged with the engagement projection 33 at intermediate parts 51a and 51b in the lengthwise direction of the coil 52, and held by the contact support 20. The engagement projection 33 is engaged with the coil 52 of the coil spring 51 of the contact member 50 so as to move the contact member 50 forward and backward in the extension direction of the axis C of the coil with respect to the contact support 20 when the contact member 50 is rotated around the center axis C of the coil. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a contact structure, and more particularly, to a contact structure using a coil spring as a contact member and an electronic device using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the conventional digital watch 101 shown in FIG. 5, a buzzer lead terminal 108 in the form of a coil spring 107 is provided in a guide hole 106 of a battery frame 105 integrated with a circuit block 103 and a panel frame 104 by a panel frame mounting spring 102. One end 109 of the buzzer lead terminal 108 is used as a contact point for the contact terminal of the circuit board of the circuit block 103, and the other end 110 is connected to one terminal of the piezoelectric element 112 which is attached to the inner surface of the exterior back cover 111 and functions as a buzzer. It is a contact point. The liquid crystal panel 114 is supported by the panel frame 104 and the conductive rubber 113 on the front side (lower side in FIG. 5) of the circuit block 103 so as to be able to supply electric power. Has been driven through.
[0003]
The buzzer lead terminal 108 in the form of a coil spring 107 has linear projections 117 and 118 extending at both ends 109 and 110 in the tangential direction of the coil circle as shown in FIG. 6, a substantially circular hole 106a is continuously connected to the hole 106a so that the coil spring 107 having the linear protrusion 117 can be inserted in the T1 direction along the axis Q as shown in FIG. A substantially triangular hole portion 106b is provided, and the cross-sectional shape is a drop shape. The battery frame 105 is also arranged such that the linear projection 117 of the coil 121 of the coil spring 107 can be turned around the central axis Q in the Q1 direction and engaged, as shown in FIGS. A fan-shaped notch or recess 122 that allows the rotational engagement is provided on the end surface of one of the side wall portions 120 (FIG. 6) of the triangular portion 106a of the hole 106 on the side that contacts the circuit block 103.
[0004]
Therefore, when mounting the buzzer lead terminal 108 in the form of a coil spring 107 with the linear projection 117 on the guide hole 106, the coil portion having a circular cross section of the coil spring 107 is The coil spring 107 is inserted into the hole 106 from the tip 109 side in the T1 direction so that the linear protrusion 117 fits into the triangular or fan-shaped hole portion 106b of the hole 106. Is brought into contact with the contact terminal of the circuit block 103 at the back of the hole 106 (the state shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 6). Next, before the hole 106, the portion of the coil spring 107 protruding from the hole 106 and remaining on the base end portion 110 side is pinched, and the coil spring 107 is turned around the central axis Q in the Q1 direction. Then, the protruding portion 117 of the tip portion 109 is fitted into the fan-shaped notched concave portion 122 of the battery frame 105 (the end portions 117 and 118 are shown by broken lines and solid lines in FIG. 6, respectively). As a result, the wall surface 122a of the cutout 122 engaged with the linear projection 117 normally prevents the coil spring 107 from coming off in the T2 direction.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a state where the back cover 111 is removed or is not attached, such as when replacing the battery or assembling the movement, the projecting portion 117 is simply fitted into the cutout recess 122, so that the projecting end of the coil spring 107 is When an unexpected external force is applied to the coil spring 107 due to a part of the body, a tool, or the like touching or applying vibration to the portion on the side of the portion 110, the protrusion 117 is rotated in the Q2 direction and detaches from the recess 122. It may return into the triangular hole 106b. In this case, if the watch 101 is oriented in a direction in which the opening 106c (FIG. 5) of the hole 106 is located downward, the coil spring 107 may fall out of the hole 106 in the T2 direction.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a contact structure in which a contact member in the form of a coil spring is less likely to come off, and an electronic device using the same. It is in.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve this object, the contact structure according to the invention comprises a contact member in the form of a coil spring and a contact support with an elongated cavity in which the coil spring is accommodated, wherein the contact support comprises a hollow cavity. An engagement protrusion extending from one side of the peripheral wall toward the center in the transverse direction of the cavity, and a coil spring constituting a contact member is engaged with the engagement protrusion at a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the coil and held by the support member Have been.
[0008]
In the contact structure of the present invention, "a coil spring disposed in the cavity of the support member has an engagement protrusion extending from one side of the peripheral wall of the cavity toward the center in the transverse direction of the cavity. Is held at the support member by being engaged at the intermediate portion ", so that the coil spring is less likely to fall off. That is, in the contact structure of the present invention, since the engaging protrusion is engaged with the spiral gap of the coil at the intermediate portion of the coil of the coil spring, an unexpected external force is applied to the projecting portion of the coil of the coil spring. Also, there is practically no possibility that the engagement between the engagement protrusion and the coil spring is released.
[0009]
When each end of the coil spring, which is located at the end of the coil in the extending direction of the coil and serves as a contact point of the coil spring, is pressed against a corresponding contact terminal, the end of the coil spring engages with the engagement protrusion of the coil spring. The two coil spring portions between the joint portions are pressed against the corresponding contact terminals with a contact pressure corresponding to the degree of compression of the respective free lengths (lengths in a state where no external force is applied). Therefore, by adjusting the position or position (position or position in the extending direction of the coil) of the engaged portion of the coil spring that is engaged with the engaging projection, one end of the coil and the engaged portion are adjusted. And the rate at which the coil portion is compressed to match the reference length between the corresponding end of the cavity and the engagement projection, and the end of the coil is adjusted to the desired length. It is pressed against the contact terminal by the contact pressure. In the description of the conventional example, when the contact at one end of the coil is free, such as in a state where the back cover is detached, one of the engaged portions is provided between the engaging protrusion and the engaged portion of the coil. Since the coil portion is pressed against the engagement protrusion and the corresponding contact with a force corresponding to the contact pressure of the coil portion on the side, there is little risk that the coil will come off the engagement protrusion. Further, since a force corresponding to the contact pressure acts between the engaged portion of the coil portion and the engagement protrusion, there is little possibility that the displacement of the coil portion with respect to the engagement protrusion occurs.
[0010]
The cavity typically has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially similar to the envelope of the outer periphery of the coil of the coil spring, typically both, such that a slight gap remains between its peripheral wall and the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring. Although both have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, if desired, the cross-sectional shape of the peripheral wall of the cavity and the cross-sectional shape of the outer periphery of the coil spring may be different.
[0011]
The contact support typically has an engagement projection from one end opening of the cavity on another side of the peripheral wall of the elongated cavity to expose the engagement projection to allow the coil spring to be removed from the side. It has a side opening extending longitudinally of the cavity to the region beyond.
[0012]
Here, typically, the side openings extend over the entire length of the cavity. In that case, most parts including one end of the coil spring are fitted into the cavity from the side opening on the other side of the peripheral wall of the cavity, and the engaging projection is engaged with the spiral gap of the coil of the coil spring. Simply by doing so, the coil spring can be mounted in the cavity of the contact support. If desired, the engaging projections may be provided at two locations in the longitudinal direction of the cavity to keep the contact pressure at the other end constant irrespective of the change in the contact pressure at one end of the coil spring. You may keep it.
[0013]
When there is only one engaging projection, the coil spring is typically engaged with the engaging projection so as to be able to advance and retreat in its axial direction by rotating the coil spring around its central axis. That is, the engagement projection is typically formed in a shape that allows for a helical screwing of the coil spring. In this case, after the coil spring is engaged with the engaging projection at an arbitrary intermediate portion, the coil spring is turned around the central axis to obtain a proportion of the length of the coil spring portion located at both ends of the engaging projection. Can be adjusted or changed.
[0014]
Thus, when the coil spring is engaged with the engagement protrusion so that the screw spring can be screwed in, the other side opening of the cavity is extended over the entire length of the cavity instead of extending over the entire length of the cavity. In order to expose the engagement projection so as to allow the coil spring to be attached and detached from the side, it is sufficient that the coil spring extends from one end opening of the cavity to a region beyond the engagement projection. After installation, the coil spring may be turned around the center axis of the coil to adjust the engaged position of the coil spring with respect to the engagement projection. To remove the coil spring, the reverse operation may be performed.
[0015]
When the tip of the coil spring can be engaged with the engagement projection simply by rotating the coil spring around the center axis, the side opening for exposing the engagement projection on the peripheral wall of the cavity is provided. It is not necessary. That is, in this case, the cavity may be formed of a through hole having a peripheral wall all around in the entire region in the longitudinal direction. In that case, the coil spring is inserted from one end of the through hole, the insertion end of the coil spring is brought into contact with the engagement projection, and the coil spring is turned around the center axis to engage the spiral gap at the insertion end of the coil spring. By engaging the mating projection and further turning the coil spring about the central axis, the position of engagement of the coil spring with the engaging projection can be adjusted or changed.
[0016]
Note that the engagement protrusion typically has a key-shaped locking portion at a distal end thereof for preventing the coil spring from coming off the cavity from the side. In this case, the helical gap between the spring bodies forming the coil of the coil spring when the portion between the engaged portion and the one end portion of the coil spring is compressed and deformed is sufficiently smaller than the key-shaped locking portion. Therefore, even if an unexpectedly large external force acts, there is no possibility that the coil spring comes off the engagement protrusion.
[0017]
The contact support of the contact structure as described above is made of, for example, a battery frame of an electronic timepiece. However, such a contact structure may be used for any other contact. Further, the contact structure may be an electronic device. The features of the present invention as described above can be grasped not only as features of the contact structure, but also as features of the contact support itself.
[0018]
The present invention can also be understood as a method of assembling or manufacturing a contact structure, and the method of assembling a contact structure according to the present invention typically includes an opening at one side and a peripheral wall at another side. The contact structure is provided by disposing an elongated coil spring in an elongated cavity in which an engagement protrusion is formed at a middle portion in the longitudinal direction such that the middle portion in the longitudinal direction is engaged with the engagement protrusion with a spiral gap. More typically, for example, by pinching one end of the coil spring and rotating it around its central axis, the other end of the coil spring and the engaged portion And adjusting the compressive stress of the coil spring portion between the two.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0020]
【Example】
The electronic timepiece 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is basically configured similarly to the electronic timepiece shown in FIG. 5 except for a contact structure 60. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the electronic timepiece 1 as a watch, the battery frame 20 is integrated with the circuit block 3 and the panel frame 4 by the panel frame mounting spring 2, and a buzzer is provided on the inner surface of the exterior back cover 5. The piezoelectric element 6 which works as a stick is attached. In addition, on the front side of the circuit block 3, the liquid crystal panel 7 is supported by the panel frame 4 and the conductive rubber 8 so as to be able to supply power, and on the outside thereof, the exterior glass 10 is driven into the opening of the exterior case 9 via packing. . In addition, as can be seen from FIG. 2A showing a plan view of the back surface side with the exterior back cover 5 removed, the crystal frame 11 on the circuit block 3 and the step-up coil 12 are provided in the battery frame 20. A notch for receiving the button-shaped battery is formed, and a recess 21 for accommodating the button-shaped battery 14 to which the voltage extraction terminal 13 is pressed against the peripheral surface is formed. In the following, for simplification of description, an X, Y, Z orthogonal coordinate system (right-handed system) fixed to the timepiece 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2A is used.
[0021]
A coil spring accommodating recess 25 as a cavity is formed in a peripheral portion 22 of the battery frame 20 as a contact support. The accommodating concave portion 25 forming the buzzer lead terminal guide hole is opened by the opening portions 26 and 27 on both the front surface 23 and the rear surface 24 of the peripheral portion 22 of the battery frame 20 shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. are doing. That is, the housing recess 25 is a through hole 28 that penetrates the peripheral portion 22 of the battery frame 20 in the thickness direction Z. In this example, as can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the accommodation recess 25 has a substantially “U” shape in a plan view perpendicular to the extending direction Z of the recess 25 and has a peripheral edge. On the outer peripheral edge 29 side of the portion 22, a side opening 30 is provided which extends over the entire area of the peripheral portion 22 in the thickness direction Z. That is, in the through hole 28, the peripheral wall portion 31 of the hole 28 is cut out on the entire outer peripheral edge 29 side of the peripheral edge portion 22 in the thickness direction Z of the peripheral edge portion 22, and the opening 30 is formed in the peripheral wall portion. Will be.
[0022]
1 and 2, the engagement extending from one side wall 32 of the peripheral wall 31 toward the center of the concave portion 25 at the intermediate portion Za in the thickness direction Z of the peripheral edge portion 22. A projection 33 is formed. The engagement protrusion 33 may be formed at any part of the recess 25 in the circumferential direction. That is, in the illustrated example, the peripheral wall portion 32 having the engagement protrusion 33 is located at a relative position such that the peripheral wall portions 32 are oriented at substantially 90 degrees with respect to the center of the hole 28 so as to be one side wall of the opening 30. However, instead, the engagement protrusion 33 may be formed on the peripheral wall portion 32a (FIG. 2B) facing the side opening portion 30. This engaging projection 33 typically extends from a base 34 connected to the peripheral wall 32 to a distal end 35 as shown in FIG. 3 so as to be able to substantially follow a spiral gap of a spiral coil spring described later. A front side surface 36 (in the insertion direction Z1) inclined toward the back Z1 toward the back, and a key-shaped locking portion bent at the distal end portion 35 to prevent the coil spring from coming off the engagement protrusion 33. A hook portion 37 is provided. The hook portion 37 has a shape of a convex portion which is smoothly curved to facilitate the engagement. However, the hook 37 may not be provided.
[0023]
In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the engagement protrusion 33 is drawn wide, but as long as the engagement protrusion 33 can have sufficient rigidity with respect to the coil spring, the plane shown in FIG. The width seen in the figure may be narrower. In the illustrated example, in the concave portion 25, in a substantially circular region in a plan view, the protrusion 33 extends linearly inward in the radial direction. It may be curved along.
[0024]
The coil spring 51 constituting the buzzer lead terminal 50 as a contact member has the form of a spiral coil 52 made of a conductive material, and typically has a wide contact area as a contact at both ends 53 and 54. To provide a non-helical arc or circular portion 55, 56.
[0025]
In the mounted state shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the coil spring 51 is pressed and brought into contact with a contact terminal or a pad or a contact pattern area of the circuit block 3 by the circular contact portion 55 of the end 53, and the circular shape of the end 54. The contact portion 56 presses and contacts a contact terminal or a pad or a contact pattern area of the piezoelectric element 6 on the inner surface of the exterior back cover 5. Here, the contact pressure of the contact portion 55 to the terminal of the circuit block 3 is closer to the contact portion 55 than the engagement protrusion 33 among the engaged portions 51 a and 51 b of the coil spring 51 engaged with the engagement protrusion 33. Is determined according to the degree of compression applied to the coil spring portion 57 located between the engaged portion 51a and the contact portion 55. Therefore, the contact pressure of the contact portion 55 is determined by the ratio of the natural length (free length) of the coil spring portion 57 to the distance or length L1 between the engagement projection 33 and the surface 23. Here, of course, if the position of the engaged portion 51b changes, the free length of the coil spring portion 57 also changes, and the contact pressure also changes.
[0026]
Similarly, the contact pressure of the contact portion 56 to the terminal of the piezoelectric element 6 is reduced by the compression applied to the coil spring portion 58 located between the engaged portion 51 b engaged with the engagement projection 33 and the contact portion 56. Is determined according to the degree. Accordingly, the ratio of the free length of the coil spring portion 58 to the distance or length L2 between the engagement projection 33 and the surface of the piezoelectric element 6 in a state where the outer case back 5 is mounted at a predetermined position is determined by the contact portion 56. The contact pressure is determined.
[0027]
In the contact structure 60 configured as described above, the coil spring 51 as the contact member 50 is housed in the concave portion 25 and is compressed and deformed by the coil spring portion 57 to be disposed between the engagement protrusion 33 and the circuit block 3. Since the portion 51a corresponding to one end of the coil spring portion 57 is pressed and engaged with the engagement protrusion 33, even if the piezoelectric element 6 is removed together with the exterior back cover 5, the compression state of the coil spring portion 57 is reduced. Is substantially unchanged, and the coil spring 51 can be kept in a state of being engaged with the engagement protrusion 33. Since the engaging projection 33 has the hook portion 37 at the tip, the hook portion 37 locks the engaged portion 51a even if the engaged portion 51a tries to move in the −Y direction. The coil spring 51 is less likely to be detached from the engagement protrusion 33 and the recess 25, and there is little possibility that the coil spring 51 will be detached even if an unexpected external force is applied.
[0028]
When assembling the contact structure 20 as described above, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the coil spring 51 is inserted into the recess 25 from the “U” opening 30 of the recess 25. Push in so as to translate in the Y direction from the side. By the pushing of the coil spring 51, the coil spring 51 is engaged with the engaging projection 33 at an arbitrary position or a desired position in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the coil spring 51 is engaged with the engagement projection 33 near the end 53 of the coil 52 of the coil spring 51, but the engagement between the coil spring 51 and the projection 33 is possible. May be engaged at a position closer to the end 54.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 3, the coil spring 51 is engaged with the engagement projection 33 so that the hook portion 37 of the engagement projection 33 is completely completely fitted inside the ring or circle of the coil 52 of the coil spring 51. After that, the coil spring 51 is pinched at its exposed end 54 in the Z direction or in the vicinity thereof with a finger or a suitable tool, and viewed in the plan view of FIG. (The direction of rotation is selected according to the direction of the helix of the coil of the coil spring 51). Thus, the counterclockwise spiral coil spring 51 enters the recess 25 in the Z1 direction like a left-handed screw while being guided by the engagement with the engagement protrusion 33. As the coil spring 51 advances or enters in the Z1 direction, first, the end 53 of the coil spring 51 comes into contact with the circuit block 3, and when the coil spring 51 further advances in the Z1 direction, it contacts with the contact point 55 of the end 53. The contact pressure between the contacts of the circuit block 3 increases. Therefore, where the contact pressure between the contact 55 and the contact of the circuit block 3 and the contact pressure between the contact of the piezoelectric element 6 and the contact 56 of the coil spring 51 become appropriate, respectively, the Z1 direction of the coil spring 51 Stop approach. Incidentally, the entry position of the spring 51 in the Z1 direction is determined in advance by marking a part of the spring to be engaged with the engaging projection 33 or marking a part of the spring to be projected from the surface 24 in advance. Alternatively, the number (the number of pitches) of the helical portion of the coil to be positioned closer to the circuit block 3 than the protrusion 33 may be determined in advance by any means.
[0030]
As described above, the coil spring 51 can be easily and reliably engaged with the engagement protrusion 33 and positioned at a predetermined position, so that the contact structure 60 can be formed.
[0031]
When the spiral of the coil 52 of the coil spring 51 is the right spiral instead of the left spiral, the portion near the projecting end 54 of the coil spring 51 or the coil spring portion is rotated clockwise C2 instead of counterclockwise C1. By turning 58, the coil spring 51 can be arranged and positioned at a desired position.
[0032]
Initially, as shown in FIG. 3, when the coil spring 51 is to be engaged with the engagement projection 33 near the end 53 of the coil 52 of the coil spring 51, in the recess 25, as shown in FIG. In the area below the lower edge 53a of the end portion 53, the peripheral wall portion 31 is formed in at least a part or all of the portion instead of the opening portion or the notch portion 30 because the region below the lower edge 53a of the end portion 53 is not involved. It may be. That is, in the region below the lower edge 53a in FIG. 3, the concave portion 25 has a substantially circular cross section (a through hole having a peripheral wall on the entire circumference) instead of a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the central axis C. Is also good.
[0033]
Similarly, the coil spring 51 engages the edge of its end 53 by rotating the coil spring 51 about its central axis C (in a direction corresponding to the direction of the helix of the coil 52 of the coil spring 51). When the end portion 53 and the engagement projection 33 are formed in a shape capable of causing engagement with the engagement projection portion 33, instead of engaging the coil spring 51 with the projection 33 in the Y direction from the side, By inserting the coil spring 51 from the end 53 into the recess 25 in the form of a through-hole in the Z1 direction, bringing the end 53 into contact with the engagement projection 33, and rotating the coil spring 51 around the central axis C. The helical gap of the coil spring 51 is engaged with the engagement projection 33, and the portion of the coil spring 51 that engages with the engagement projection 33 can be advanced in the Z direction. Instead of providing A hole having no opening or notch in the peripheral wall 31 in the entire area in the direction, typically, a through hole having a circular cross section is provided in the entire area in the thickness direction (extending direction), and an intermediate portion in the extending direction of the through hole. In, an engaging projection extending from the peripheral wall toward the center of the hole may be formed.
[0034]
In addition, since the end portion 54 does not enter the concave portion 25, the end portion 54 may have a linear or other protruding portion as shown by an imaginary line 54a in FIG.
[0035]
Further, the engagement protrusion 33 may or may not reach the center axis C of the hole 28 as long as the coil spring 51 can be engaged so as not to easily disengage from the engagement protrusion 33. , Or C, or may extend in a direction deviated from the radial direction. Further, the hook-shaped portion 37 may be in the Z direction instead of the −Z direction (Z1 direction).
[0036]
In the above, one contact portion 55 of the contact member 50 in the form of the coil spring 51 is substantially in advance settled on the one end opening 26 side of the elongated cavity 25 of the contact support 20 in advance with respect to the contact support 20. Alternatively, the contact terminal portion 56 is pressed against the contact terminal portion of the fixed circuit board of the circuit block 3, and the other contact portion 56 is disposed on the other end opening 27 side of the elongated cavity 25 of the contact support 20, and the disk-like shape of the exterior back cover 5 is formed. It can be pressed against the piezoelectric element 6, and when the outer case back 5 is detached from the outer case 9, the outer case 5 is engaged with the engaging projection 33 in the cavity 25 and is attached to the cavity 25. After positioning, the back cover 5 is pressed against the contact point of the piezoelectric element 6, but in some cases, when the coil spring 51 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 33 of the cavity 25. Coil spring 5 It may not be mounted substantially member contact portion 55 is provided with a contact area to be brought into pressure contact (circuit block 3 in the example above) relative to the contact carrier 20. Further, there may be a gap between the surface 23 of the contact support 20 on the side where the contact portion 55 of the coil spring 51 is located and the contact portion of the circuit block 3 to which the contact portion 55 is pressed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory sectional view of a part of an electronic timepiece provided with a contact structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
2A and 2B show a state in which an outer case back of the electronic timepiece of FIG. 2 is removed, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view, and FIG. 2B is a part of FIG. 2A (encircled by a two-dot chain line). FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view showing a step of assembling a coil spring in the contact structure of the electronic timepiece of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional explanatory view showing a state where a coil spring is incorporated in the contact structure of the electronic timepiece of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of a conventional electronic timepiece including a conventional contact structure.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory plan view of a contact structure of the electronic timepiece shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective explanatory view of a contact structure of the electronic timepiece of FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 electronic clock (watch)
6 Piezoelectric element 20 Battery frame (contact support)
22 Peripheral edge 25 Concavity (hollow)
30 Side opening 31 Peripheral wall 33 Engagement projection 37 Hook (key-shaped locking part)
50 contact member 51 coil springs 51a, 51b engaged portions 53, 55 end portions 54, 56 contacts 57, 58 coil spring portion 60 contact structure C center axis Z1 advancing (entering) direction

Claims (12)

A contact structure having a contact member in the form of a coil spring and a contact support with an elongated cavity in which the coil spring is housed,
The contact support includes an engagement protrusion extending from one side of a peripheral wall of the cavity toward a central portion in a transverse direction of the cavity, and a coil spring forming a contact member is engaged at an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction of the coil. A contact structure engaged with the projection and held by the support member. The engagement protrusion is configured such that when the contact member is rotated about a central axis of the coil, the coil spring of the contact member is moved forward and backward in the axial direction of the coil with respect to the contact support. 2. The contact structure according to claim 1, wherein said contact structure is engaged with said coil. The contact support is provided on another side of the peripheral wall of the elongated cavity so as to expose the engagement projection so as to allow the coil spring to be attached to and detached from a side of the coil spring. The contact structure according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a side opening extending in a longitudinal direction of the cavity up to the side. 4. The contact structure according to claim 3, wherein the side opening extends over the entire length of the cavity. 5. The contact structure according to claim 3, wherein the engagement protrusion includes a key-shaped locking portion at a distal end portion that prevents the coil spring from coming off the cavity from the side. 6. The contact structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the contact support is a battery frame. An electronic device comprising the contact structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A contact support having an elongated cavity in which a coil spring serving as a contact member is accommodated, wherein the coil spring extends from one side of a peripheral wall of the cavity toward a center in a transverse direction of the cavity at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the cavity. A contact support having an engagement protrusion engageable with an intermediate portion of the coil. The engagement protrusion is provided on the coil of the coil spring of the contact member such that when the contact member is rotated around the central axis of the coil, the contact member moves in the axial direction of the coil with respect to the contact support. 9. The contact support of claim 8, wherein the contact support is configured to be engaged. In order to expose the engagement protrusion so as to allow the coil spring to be attached and detached from the side, the longitudinal direction of the cavity extends from one end opening of the cavity to a region beyond the engagement protrusion on another side of the peripheral wall of the elongated cavity. The contact support according to claim 8, further comprising a side opening extending through the contact support. The contact support of claim 10, wherein the side opening extends the full length of the cavity. 12. The contact structure according to claim 10, wherein the engagement protrusion includes a key-shaped locking portion at a distal end portion that prevents the coil spring from coming off the cavity from the side. 13.

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